The new Evil The musical film is a coming-of-age story focusing on the Ozian witches in their youth, known as Elphaba and Galinda, played respectively by Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande. Most people have heard of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch from a small magical land called Oz. They are supporting characters who represent good and evil in their iconic pink and green in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz film. However, Evil has many stories to cover; they are even sharing everything, with Evil Part Two will be released in November 2025.
THE Evil film took 20 years to make and it has an interesting history in terms of the tradition it is based on, from books to Broadway shows to the classic MGM film. The original film gave viewers a stunning cinematic experience, moving from the sepia drabness of Kansas to the bright, colorful world of Oz. Almost 100 years later, we are receiving a new surprise in cinemas with the Evil film adaptation. But I will need to go down the fictional rabbit hole to explain how the new musical was inspired by the representation of these famous characters.
Wicked’s Connection to The Wizard of Oz Explained
Wicked is based on a musical based on a book based on a film based on a book
The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good first appeared in L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This book was then transformed into the landmark 1939 Wizard of Oz film starring Judy Garland. Fast forward to 1995, when Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the Westan adult fantasy novel and a revisionist retelling. Then, in 2003, a Broadway musical loosely based on Maguire’s book debuted, with lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a screenplay by Winnie Holzman. Evil is still one of the longest-running productions on Broadway (via Poster).
This brings us back to the present day, where the new Evil film is specifically based on the stage musical. Holzman also dusted off his Broadway run to co-write the new film’s script with Dana Fox. The Road to Evil The film getting greenlit is also the template to follow, but it doesn’t make this new musical version any less magical. The biggest difference between Maguire’s world of Oz and the original story is that witches are the main characters in Evilnot Dorothy with her iconic ruby red slippers.
Wicked being a “loose” adaptation of the book makes the lore more complicated
The musical is darker than the Wizard of Oz, but not as dark as Maguire’s book
Fans of Maguire’s book know that it contains strong adult elements, including bestiality, homophobia and rape, many of which were cut from the series. Elphaba’s green skin and the negative reactions she receives throughout her life, as well as the oppression of the talking Animals of Oz, clearly allude to racism. Interestingly, the Wicked Witch of the West’s skin was not green in Baum’s original story. But with The Wizard of Oz Being one of the first color films, actress Margaret Hamilton used toxic green paint to appear on screen and emphasize her evil nature.
THE Evil The film is also expected to make some changes and be a unique venture. While an accurate and explicit adaptation of Maguire’s novel would require an R rating, this theatrical version appeals to a much wider audience. Evil fans of the book who have never seen the musical may be disappointed by the film’s lighter material, but it is a smart marketing strategy to sell more tickets. However, those looking for a broad explanation of the story’s evolution will be even more confused when the Evil the plots and tones of the book and the play are so different.
Do Wizard of Oz fans need to be familiar with Wicked to enjoy the film?
The Wizard of Oz is a more standard fairy tale than the adult-themed Wicked One
Fans of the original The Wizard of Oz film does not need to be an expert in Evil stage musical or book by Maguire to enjoy this film. In fact, it gives them a new perspective on watching the movie without knowing how it will end. Fans can still look forward to the nostalgia of seeing Dorothy in Evilnot to mention Toto, the yellow brick road and the beautiful bright green Emerald City. However, moviegoers who want to return to the old story are in luck, with a confirmation confirmed The Wizard of Oz remake on the horizon.
Fans can still look forward to the nostalgia of seeing Dorothy in Evilnot to mention Toto, the yellow brick road and the beautiful bright green Emerald City.
Although Dorothy was subliminally included in Maguire’s book, she does not appear on the musical stage beyond a shadowy silhouette. Her inclusion in the new film is an ode to fans of the 1939 classic and to help welcome them to Evil world. The winding trajectory of how the new film came about shouldn’t stop fans from transporting themselves to Oz during the nearly three-hour film. With its star-studded cast and John Chu at the directing helm, EvilI hope this movie isn’t as confusing as the timeline of the previous iterations it’s based on.
Source: Poster